DPS conference to focus on reuse of vacant schools, land

Mar. 13, 2014

Written by

Associated Press

The Detroit Public Schools will hold a conference for prospective developers on reusing vacant district buildings and surplus land.

Officials also will discuss during Thursday's conference at the Gleaners Community Food Bank in Detroit how one closed school will be used for urban farming.

A formal announcement about $5 million in financing for developers who want to create new uses for shuttered schools also will be made at the conference.

More than 80 schools and about 40 parcels of land currently are listed for sale on the district's real estate page. Time will be allowed at the end of the conference to negotiate and make on-the-spot deals.

The district has made more than $16 million by selling or leasing closed school buildings and vacant land.